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Although most organs in the body use calcium, the bones store about 99 percent of it. When our diets do not include enough calcium to satisfy the organs, the blood has to take the calcium from the bones. After a period of time, the bones lose enough calcium to thin and deteriorate them. The result of the bone loss is osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis makes the bones susceptible to fracture. There are times when a person can receive a fracture just from being bumped or coughing hard. This is often the way people find out they have osteoporosis because there are no painful symptoms to alert us to the disease.
Today, there are methods of detecting and preventing osteoporosis. The machines use X-ray or sonograms to measure the bone density. If the tests show considerable bone loss, there is a risk of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can be treated with drugs that help rebuild the bone.
Prevention is the key to most health problems, and bone loss can be prevented. The experts recommend a minimum of 1,200 mg of calcium and 400-800 mg of vitamin D daily. The vitamin D helps the body to absorb the calcium and gain bone growth. Exercise, especially weight bearing, helps keep the bones strong.
There are other benefits in taking 1,200 mg. of calcium daily, one is the prevention of colon cancer by reducing polyp growth. Calcium also helps lower blood pressure. Studies have shown that calcium can relieve the symptoms of PMS.
Anyone who has intolerance for dairy products will most likely need to take calcium in supplement form. While certain vegetables and fish contain calcium, it takes large quantities to provide the daily requirement. Most people do not eat enough of these foods. Unless you drink four cups of milk, yogurt or six ounces of cheese daily, you most likely will need to take calcium in supplement form.
If you take iron or a multivitamin that contains iron, do not take calcium at the same time because it will inhibit the absorption of both the iron and calcium. Calcium may be best taken at bedtime because it remains in the stomach longer. It also promotes a more restful sleep.
Information taken from Newsweek Special Issue, March 1999, and Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Second Edition, Balch & Balch.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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